Policy Principal - Pennsylvania

About Advanced Energy United

Advanced Energy United educates, engages, and advocates for policies that allow our member companies to compete to repower our economy with 100% clean energy. We work with decision makers at every level of government as well as regulators of energy markets to achieve this goal. The businesses we represent are lowering consumer costs, creating thousands of new jobs every year, and providing the full range of clean, efficient, and reliable energy and transportation solutions. The U.S. market for advanced energy products and services reached nearly $375 billion in 2022. Together, we are united in our mission to accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy in the United States.

If you’re an entrepreneurial, innovative, analytical and thoughtful person looking to make an impact in the clean energy space, United might be the perfect place for you to share your talents. Team members at United are given the trust and responsibility to make big things happen, and myriad opportunities to learn new skills, explore new issue areas, and work with a broad cross section of the clean energy community. Being a team member at United also means working with a talented and diverse group of people, some who bring decades of experience spanning advocacy, philanthropy, clean tech, government and more—and our collaborative approach means we get to learn from each other, expert and novice, every day. And while our organization is fully remote, we are proud of the people-focused culture we have built and the connectedness of our team.  

We work on serious issues, take our mission seriously, but never take ourselves too seriously.

Position Description

Advanced Energy United (“United”) seeks a highly energetic, smart, innovative Principal with a background in issue advocacy and/or coalition building at the state level to join our policy and campaign team. The Principal will work with United team members to develop and implement multi-year strategies and campaigns designed to achieve policy successes at the state level that will accelerate the energy transition while expanding markets for the advanced energy industry. The Principal will craft and execute creative strategies to: enact pro-advanced energy legislation in Pennsylvania; educate and build support for advanced energy technologies and policies among key decision-makers within the state; engage in regulatory proceedings in the state; support the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at the state level; defend existing advanced energy policies, and; educate and activate policymakers and executive agency staff on regional solutions needed to achieve 100% clean energy. The Principal will serve as United’s main policy lead in Pennsylvania, and will drive our work in that state. Candidates will need to have the ability to travel to meet with Advanced Energy United members, coalition allies and stakeholders, and public officials.   

Key Skills for Success 

Have A Mind for Policy: Market opportunities for the advanced energy industry are driven by policy. The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes. Experience in energy and utility policy is a bonus but not completely necessary. 

Be Small “p” Political: Recognizing opportunity, understanding power dynamics and building coalitions to seize policy opportunities is a key to success for creating a policy environment that allows advanced energy to thrive. The ideal candidate doesn’t need to have an extensive background in politics but does need to know how legislative and regulatory systems work and be excited about engaging in the politics of the policy-making process. 

Project Management Skills & a Drive to Get Things Done: Ideal candidate must have the ability to keep work and agenda organized, communicate clearly, and the drive and sense of urgency to advance policies while simultaneously navigate relationships with partners in multiple areas (legislative, regulatory, etc.)

Responsibilities 

• Serve as point person for Advanced Energy United’s work in Pennsylvania, in coordination with United policy team members, to develop and implement strategies to accelerate achievement of 100% clean energy and meet short- and long-term policy objectives. These could be legislative, administrative, or regulatory, or a mix of all three.
• Work with Advanced Energy United member companies to develop policy positions and reach consensus on policy positions on key issues.
• Manage lobbyist relationships on the ground and their engagement in legislative strategy and execution. Work with in-state lobbyists to identify key decision-makers and their staff with whom to engage on policy education and advocacy efforts.
• Organize member engagement opportunities through direct decision-maker engagement (lobby days, candidate education, etc.) earned media and participation in legislative, rulemaking, and administrative processes, as needed.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with coalition partners and identify and cultivate relationships with new allies. Engage in coordination and advocacy efforts with coalition allies in support of clean energy goals. 
• Create reports, presentations, fact sheets, and other written and visual materials needed for education and advocacy efforts, draft comments, and deliver verbal presentations as necessary.
• Work with our communications team to identify opportunities for Advanced Energy United to seek earned media coverage. Draft press statements, write blog posts, participate in webinars, engage with reporters, and create opportunities to showcase advanced energy.
• Travel on an as needed basis (up to 30%) within the region and occasionally elsewhere, for advocacy days, meetings with key allies and stakeholders, conferences, trainings, communications outreach, and other efforts on behalf of Advanced Energy United.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, in Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, or Communications preferred or applicable comparable experience; master’s degree in a relevant area is a plus.
• 4-6 years of professional experience in legislative policy development or organizing in the energy, climate, or utility sector.
• Interest in energy and transportation issues and an understanding of the importance of policy advocacy to advance an organizational agenda.
• Entrepreneurial approach, flexible attitude, and ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. 
• Experience in professional settings leading team efforts toward an agreed upon goal and being ‘bottom line’ responsible for quality finished products.
• Excellent interpersonal relationship-building and communications skills, both written and verbal.
• Intellectual curiosity, inquisitive nature, and excellent listening and problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of politics and outside game to move policy including communications, direct lobbying, and grassroots/grasstops organizing.
• Performance-oriented individual with a strong work ethic, demonstrated initiative and commitment to achieving goals.
• Must be willing to travel.
• Strong preference for someone based in or commutable distance to Pennsylvania.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

The employee is regularly required to use hands and talk or hear. The employee is required to sit for long periods of time; reach with hands and arms; may need to balance, stoop, kneel or crouch, walk up and down stairs.

Job type: Full-time; regular;

Location: REMOTE (Pennsylvania-based) residence in the U.S. required

Salary: starting at $70,000

Start Date: November/December 2024

Advanced Energy United Perks include:

•    Remote work and flexible schedule

•    Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families 

•    Medical premiums covered for employees at 100%

•    Flexible spending plans for health care and dependent care 

•   Profit Sharing opportunities and annual merit-based compensation increases

•   $50/month personal wellness reimbursement

•   $50/month phone stipend

•   Up to $200 reimbursement for home office set-up

•   Accrued Paid Time Off, 11 Federal Holidays, and an annual end-of-year closure

•   Parental Leave

•   Tuition reimbursement and professional development reimbursement

•   401(k) plan (with matching incentives)

•   WMATA Transit Smart Benefits (DC, MD, VA employees)

Advanced Energy United is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. If reasonable accommodations are needed to participate in the job application, interview process, and/ or to perform essential job functions please contact the Talent Acquisition team at careers@advancedenergyunited.org. We are committed to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice across our organization (“DEIJ”). We also incorporate these values into our mission of making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. We know that varied perspectives and a commitment to social justice are needed to succeed in making the United States an advanced energy economy. We commit to building and supporting an inclusive workforce that represents different cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints.